An Introduction to the Essence, Purposes and Characteristics of Practical Mysticism from the Perspective of Ahl-ol-Bait (PBUT)

This article is an introduction to practical mysticism from the perspective of Ahl-ol-Bait and speaks of the essence, purposes and characteristics of practical mysticism of Ahl-ol-Bait. The discussion of the essence of Ahl-ol-Bait's mysticism depends on this what is the category of Ahl-ol-Bait's practical mysticism and what are its defining characteristics and. I will not discuss the theoretical fields of Ahl-ol-Bait's mysticism, which is an intuitional knowledge and a cordial cognition of God and His Names and attributes, rather I will discuss the practical fields of Ahl-ol-Bait's mysticism, which is a kind of [mystic] journey and cordial attention and practicing the mystical instructions deduced from the Holy Quran and the practical teachings of Prophet Mohammad and the Ahl-ol-Bait (PBUT). Practical mysticism, in the school of Ahl-ol-Bait, tends to knowledge, love, servitude, illumination, nearness to God and meeting of Lord; and some of its outstanding characteristics are that it does not distinguish between monotheism and the guardianship (velayah) of the complete infallible guardian (vali) especially the Imam of this day (PBUH); and that monotheism gives immunity only if it is connected with the guardianship of vali.
Although guardianship is one of the basis of the idiomatic mysticism, but the guardianship of other than Ahl-ol-Bait is posed [as well]. The mysticism of Ibn-Arabi and his pupils and his commentators is based on the mystical experiences of non-infallible mystics but the practical mysticism of Ahl-ol-Bait is based on the Holy Quran and the tradition.